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101 Sizzling Tips for Excellence on the Violin
by; Sandy Hunt

Arranging Fiddle Tunes to Teach Violin Techniques, Part 4

From Mary Ann Willis:
The intention of this series of articles is not to present the tunes as they are traditionally done. Instead the goal is to use easy, popular music as a vehicle for the student to practice and learn more advanced techniques.

I created these versions of these tunes for my students, who enjoy them and their increased mobility around the fiddle with both left hand and bow as a result of learning them. This series is an alternative to the drudgery of Sevcik, Mazas etc. - to help inspire the beginning student to tackle intermediate techniques.

This tune is a 6/8 jig. There are 6 beats per measure; each beat is an 8th note long. Actually, we feel each measure in 2:

1 - 2 - 3   2 - 2 - 3.

Use a staccato bowstroke. This is a short stroke with a brief stop between up- and downbows for crisp articulation. In bar 2 there's a slurred staccato; stop the bow between the slurred G to D. You can use a forefinger pinch-release for a clean attack at the beginnning of each note (there's a chapter on that in my new "Hot Fiddle!" DVD).

The fun in this song is the "Pop!" left hand pizzicato in the second to last bar. Pluck the open E at the pizz. notation with a sharp pull-release of the left pinkie. You can also play the following open A with a left hand pizzicato if you like.

Have your accompanist remain silent for the pizzicato note(s) so they project clearly without interference.

©2005 Mary Ann Willis

The accompanying recording features Kelly Lancaster guitar and Dan Lewis, audio engineering.

If you have any questions you can e-mail me at violinova@ev1.net.
You also might enjoy visiting my website at www.violinova.com.

Mary Ann Willis bio -

• Professional violinist, performing and teaching in Houston Texas
  1977-1999 with The Gypsies. 2000-present with Moodafaruka
• Author of eight book/recording volumes of ethnic and classical music for Mel Bay Publications (5 published to date under Mary Ann Harbar)
• Played with numerous symphony orchestras throughout the United States, and the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy
• Houston Community College faculty member starting in 1988
• BA in music from University of California